Scotland by Train
 

Does anyone have suggestions for a train trip through lower and central Scotland. We would have only 2 days for this leg of our trip and would like to see the countryside by train. Would like to stop in Edinburgh for a day.

Stop in Edinburgh and stay for your two or three nights. There's a lot to see in Edinburgh. If you get bored in town or want to see something different, there are several day trips which are easy to do by train/public transport (check out Stirling, Roslyn, St Andrews for starters). One day/night in Edinburgh and one day/night elsewhere isn't time to see much, by the time you add in transit time, hotel check in/out, etc.

No, no, no, no, no, Jent, in all good will.

Scotland it home to some of the greatest railway journeys in the world, and to waste time at a complete pastiche like Roslyn Chapel (to say nothing of a complete fraud) would be a travesty.

If you could possibly manage just one more day, take the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig, through Rannock Moor, the head of Glencoe, and by the foot of Ben Nevis to Mallaig. In Mallaig, take the Calmac ferry to Skye. Leave Skye after as much time as you can afford and take the train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness, where you can catch the train down through Pitlochry and Blair Athol to Edinburgh.

All these routes are incredibly scenic, and while it would be a push to make the entire loop in two days, you could go to Inverness and back or (strongly preferred) to Mallaig or even Ft William and back in two days. It is the Scottish equivalent of the great Canadian trains across the Rockies.

Ackislander is right. If you only do one Scottish train journey, do the West Highland Line, voted 'Best world train journey' in the Wanderlust Travel Awards for the 2nd year running.

See www.seat61.com/WestHighlandLine.htm for photos and info.

I'd take a train Edinburgh-Glasgow-Ft Wiliam-Mallaig day 1, return day 2. Stay at a B&B in Mallaig, a little fishing port with some nice walks nearby.

The best scenery in Britain, no contest.

I bow to these recommendations which sound lovely (and appreciate the good will, Ackislander :) ). I'm so used to people saying things like "I want to see all of Europe by train!" that my mind immediately went there. I'll have to file these scenic rail routes away for future reference.

The West Highland Line is amazing...you'd have the best time!

Thank you all so much. This is tremendously helpful!!

Funny story for West Highland Railway fans.

It is 1991, climbing somewhere above Loch Lomond, the SuperSprinter train came to a very quick and rough emergency stop.

The guard went running along the carriage to determine the problem. An elderly American woman came out of the loo, red faced. We Americans are often bemused by the toilet flushing arrangements in the UK, and she had pulled the emergency cord rather than the toilet flush!

The redder face is caused by the wheelchair-accessible toilets with automatic door. People close the door with the 'close' button, and assume it's locked. Someone else comes along, presses the open button, the whole side of the loo slides slowly open to reveal the first occupanct, in situ...

I would do that route too, but the alternative is Edinburgh to Inverness; Inverness to Kyle